College: Four Warriors ink national letters of intent

Friday

Feb 7, 2014 at 2:00 AM

HAMPTON — With parents, friends and coaches on hand as witnesses, four Winnacunnet High School senior student-athletes signed national letters of intent to accept offers of college athletic scholarships.

STEVE CRAIG

HAMPTON — With parents, friends and coaches on hand as witnesses, four Winnacunnet High School senior student-athletes signed national letters of intent to accept offers of college athletic scholarships.

The University of New Hampshire will be getting two top-flight track athletes in Emma Checovich, a long jumper/sprinter/multi-event participant from North Hampton, and middle-distance sprinter Tommy Harter of Seabrook.

Alec Boucher of Hampton committed to the football program at Assumption College, a Division II program that competes in the Northeast-10.

Liz Auffant will be playing lacrosse at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, a Division I program.

Each athlete said they have been offered a partial athletic scholarship.

For Checovich, Harter and Boucher it was more than a ceremony. They were either signing the actual document or had just recently made their commitment.

"I'm glad I'm not alone," Harter said. "That would have been a little scary."

Because sports have different signing periods, Auffant actually signed her letter in November.

"I'm really glad to be able to share this day with them," Auffant said. "I've been close with Alec, Emma and Tommy for the past four years."

Winnacunnet athletic director Carol Dozibrin said it was the first time in her memory that as many as four Warriors committed to Division I or Division II programs at the same time.

Last year in a similar ceremony, Taylor Blood (Boston University, field hockey), Lexi Pelletier (University of Rhode Island, cross country/track) and Christian Dyer (Stonehill football) signed together. All three had or are having success athletically as freshmen.

"I was here last year watching when they did this and I wanted be with (her classmates) and share it with them," said Auffant, who was also a captain on the field hockey team.

Among those in attendance were four sets of smiling parents: Ron and Gail Auffant, Don and Sheila Boucher, Sam and Andrea Checovich, and Peter and Sue Harter.

Liz Auffant and Emma Checovich are following older brothers into college athletics. Sam Auffant played football at Holy Cross. Checovich's older brothers Todd and Nicholas played basketball at Colgate and Fordham, respectively.

Emma Checovich said she had made her decision to commit to UNH during the fall but was signing "the real deal," on Thursday.

Checovich was recruited primarily with an eye toward competing in the pentathlon (indoor) and heptathlon (outdoor). She won the New Hampshire high school heptathlon last spring. On Sunday she won the Division I indoor 55-meter hurdles and was second in the long jump.

"I think it was in September. I went for a visit and I came back and just knew that's where I wanted to go," Checovich said of UNH. "I did have a handful of other schools but I kept coming back to UNH. The atmosphere was different. It was definitely more laid back and that's what I like."

Harter said he made up his mind last week between UNH and Assumption. Last Sunday at the Division I meet he was second in the 600 meters, posting the second-fastest time overall in the state.

"I just felt like I'd have more options at a larger school," Harter said. "I feel like I'll be more challenged both athletically and academically."

Boucher had originally made a verbal commitment to UNH as a preferred walk-on. Last Sunday he had a change of heart and reconnected with Assumption's coaching staff, where he had also been admitted academically.

"They still had one scholarship spot left," Boucher said. This time when it was offered, he quickly accepted.

Boucher starred the past two seasons as a big-play wide receiver on the football team and is also a two-year varsity basketball player and last year went out for track for the first time and placed in the high jump at the Meet of Champions with a personal best 6 feet, 4-inch jump.

"Going through high school for four years and always wanting to play at the next level and to have it finally happen is definitely a relief and a goal realized," Boucher said.

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